Wireless HART has wide automation support

Leading process automation companies from around the world expressed support for the development of new wireless capabilities for HART communications during ISA 2006

In a display of a unified commitment for advancement of the technology, representatives from ABB, Endress+Hauser, Emerson, Honeywell, Siemens and Yokogawa spoke of the positive impact a wireless HART standard will have on the process industry and pledged their support for the development.

"ABB sees wireless as one of the core technologies that will help our customers improve their operation and lower their costs.

By developing an alternate communication path, wireless technology will enable our customers to obtain asset monitoring information from both their current and future HART-enabled instrumentation," says Pat Cashwell, ABB, Vice President, Field Instrumentation.

"Emerson is investing resources and contributing our field experience as part of our full support of the Hart Foundation efforts and leadership in establishing a wireless HART standard.

The HCF work has been and will continue to be of major importance to the industry and to Emerson," says Jane Lansing, Emerson Process Management, Vice President Marketing.

"Endress+Hauser believes that the adequate use of wireless technology promises further advantages in the areas of inventory control and other remote applications as well as plant maintenance.

E+H supports the specification of HART wireless technology that is embedded and compatible with existing automation strategies," says Andre Elle, Endress+Hauser, Research and Development Manager.

"Honeywell supports the development and coordination of open industrial wireless standards and specifications like Wireless HART.

We are taking an active role in the development of the Wireless HART specifications.

We also support the enhanced DDL technology to standardise field device information for host systems," says David Kaufman, Honeywell, Director Business Development.

"Siemens is very active and supportive of the work being done by the Wireless HART Working Group and we pledge to continue our support for the creation of a wireless HART specification," Hans Georg Kumpfmuller, Siemens, Division President for Sensors and Communication.

"Yokogawa is committed to the Foundation's standardisation effort to produce a practical, safe, and robust wireless sensor network standard that will help users achieve best-in-class, reliable plants," says Nobuaki Konishi, Yokogawa, General Manager Marketing, Industrial Automation.

"Of the 20 million-plus HART-enabled devices currently installed around the globe, only 10% are delivering their full diagnostic potential, a state of affairs that is poised for change," says Ron Helson, HCF Executive Director: "Development of the wireless HART standard along with the new enhanced DDL capabilities opens the door to the untapped functions in HART devices and simplifies the task of integrating instrumentation from multiple vendors into plant asset optimisation systems".

HCF member companies participating in the Wireless HART Working Group include major automation suppliers and leaders in wireless technology: ABB, Adaptive Instruments, Dust Networks, ELPRO Technologies, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Flowserve, Honeywell, MACTek, Omnex Control Systems, Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, Siemens, Smar and Yokogawa.

The HART Communication Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization providing worldwide support for application of HART technology.

Established in 1993, the Foundation is the technology owner and standards setting body for the HART Communication Protocol.

Major instrumentation manufacturers and users around the world support the Foundation.

Membership is open to anyone interested in the use of HART technology.

For more information, please see the website.

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